As we celebrate National Minority Health Month in April, the Missouri Health Equity Collaborative (MOHEC) wants to raise awareness about health disparities that continue to affect racial and ethnic minorities and efforts to advance health equity.

MOHEC has worked the past couple of years to better understand Latino immigrants’ perspective on: 1) the process they go through to access health care, 2) the barriers they face to access health care services and 3) the resources they use to overcome these challenges. In 2014, MOHEC implemented the Missouri Latino Health Survey, which will provide additional insight on patients’ experiences with their health care providers, as well as, whether patients receive appropriate and timely preventive care services. The survey was conducted through face-to-face enumerator led interviews of 245 Latinos in seven different communities across the state of Missouri, Kansas City, St. Louis, Sedalia, Milan, Bootheel (Senath and surroundings), Monet, and Columbia.

As part of our efforts to raise awareness about health and health care disparities, MOHEC is releasing the first fact-sheets that provide a glimpse into the statewide Latino health survey results, looking at insurance coverage for Latinos in Missouri and interpretations services available.